What are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z New College of Florida
1

<p>Good afternoon,</p>

<p>How are you? I was considering New College of Florida as a safety school, and if you could chance me that would be great. </p>

<p>My classes so far have been, including the ones I am taking this year:
Pre-AP Biology
Pre-AP Chemistry
A.P. Environmental Science
A.P. World History (3 on the exam) A.P. United States History
A.P. European History (2 on the exam) Pre-AP English I
Pre-AP English II
A.P. English Language and Composition
Debate I
Debate II
Honors Debate III
Honors Debate IV
Honors Debate V
Honors Debate VI
Band I
Band II
Band III
Latin I
Latin II
Honors Latin III
Honors Latin IV
Pre-AP Algebra I
Pre-AP Algebra II
Pre-AP Geometry
Honors Pre-Calculus
Journalism I
Life Management Skills </p>

<p>My PSAT scores were 59 in Critical Reading, 54 in Mathematics, and 56 in Writing Skills. I am pretty sure that would translate to about a 1700 on the SAT, but I could be wrong. Also, I plan on graduating with the five A.P.'s I have so far and also taking four or five next year. </p>

<p>Some of my extracurricular activities and interests are -
493 hours and 20 minutes of community service so far (I plan to have 1,000 by the end of my senior year)
2 years of being a Student Ambassador (planning on three)
NJHS and NHS since middle school (running for Secretary this year)
Boy Scout - Eagle Scout with Palms
Outstanding Community Service Award (from school)
Presidential Community Service Award (from President Barack H. Obama)
Jazz band member 3 years (also plan on doing next year as well)
Youth group for all of high school
Debate member for all of high school (2nd place and 3rd place in local Student Congress tournaments and at National Qualifiers: 1st alternate to Nationals in Congress, 2nd in Extemporaneous Speaking, and 5th in Policy Debate) - also worked as Student Congress Trainer in tenth grade
Distinction Level in National Forensic League with 284 points (so far)
National Junior Classical League (inducted 9th grade and continued throughout high school)
Sea Scouts member (affiliated with Boy Scouts of America) Apprentice ranking -2 different leadership positions
Blood donor (once so far, but I will donate more times)
Member of cross country team for all of high school -Spirit award in ninth grade
Perfect Attendance for all of high school
National Society of High School Scholars (inducted in tenth grade)
Staff on National Youth Leadership Training
NUMEROUS ministries at church
Superior rating in Solo and Ensemble
Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow
Academic and non-academic awards from ninth and tenth grade
National Latin Exam "cum laude" score in ninth grade - Certificate of Honorable Merit
Highest Honor Roll in all of high school
Dean's Award in ninth grade
Headmaster's Award in tenth grade
Historian position in band for one year
Member of Friend's of Rachel Club in tenth grade (Rachel's Challenge)
Speaking at a town meeting against dog tethering laws
Member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal's street team
Recommended for multiple National Youth Leadership Forums (could not attend for financial reasons)
Recommended for National Youth Environment Summit: Redesigning the Future at Catawba College (could not attend due to scheduling conflicts)
Participated in Order of the Arrow Trail Crew (worked for two weeks on building trails in New Mexico at Philmont Scout Ranch)
Duke Talent Identification Program in seventh and eighth grade (not sure if this actually counts for anything)
A.P. European History subject award from teacher
Leadership positions held in Boy Scouts - Scribe three times, Assistant Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Historian, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster </p>

<p>Weighted, my GPA is a 3.91. It is a 3.57 unweighted. Also, I am a white male, so there are no minority scholarships. The only schools I would have legacy at are Youngstown State and Providence College. I know I'm not interested in YSU, and I'm not sure about Providence. </p>

<p>Thank you,
Andrew</p>

2

<p>New College is not a safety school for you. Your academic history is light. Band and debate are fine extra curricular activities, but neither they, nor life management skills or journalism, are considered academic subjects in high school. Further, 2s and 3s on AP exams suggest either your school is not academically rigorous, or you have academic weaknesses. As to your list of extra curricular activities, the only ones appropriate to mention on an application are Eagle Scout, your debate accomplishments, and band. New College is a terrific school, and if you are interested in attending you should certainly apply, but it is definitely not a safety school for you.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for your suggestions. What other classes should I be taking to improve my academic history, and what would be a better safety school for me to consider? Also, I’ve only taken those two AP’s so far, and I expect to do much better on this years. I have heard that you don’t have to submit the scores you got on the exam, and that they are only for placement once you’re accepted. Which extracurriculars could I get involved with that would look stronger?</p>

4

<p>You should speak with your advisor and your parents about your classes and your list of colleges, as I am not familiar with you or your high school. While it is true that you do not have to submit AP scores to any college to which you apply, good scores can be the difference between an admit and a rejection. That said, if you choose to submit scores, then all of your scores will be sent, so you need to carefully consider the implications when preparing your applications. Your extracurricular activities – scouting, band and debate – are fine, and spreading yourself thinner would not be wise. The classes you’re still going to take are likely less flexible than your list of schools, so if I were you I would focus on doing well in your classes, and creating a list of colleges that includes several schools to which your advisor thinks you are a likely admit. After all, it’s what you do when you get to college that matters, much more so than where you do it, so you want to be sure you have a spot to land next fall. Good Luck!</p>